I HEART SATURDAYS

I haven't posted one of these in awhile and quite frankly it is because the past few Saturdays have been rather frenzied. Not to say that all of our students and guests are not fantastic because they totally rock, just miscommunications here and there on our end. True to form, when I was mentally prepared for a crisis yesterday, everything ran smoothly. Once again, I can honestly say I Heart Saturdays!!

Have you ever stopped to truly ponder the idea of expecting the unexpected? If and when you do you will probably come to the same conclusion, that it is one big circle of tail chasing. Unfortunately, we all operate under expectations at some point or another which makes it quite impossible. And if you are a bit of a control freak like moi, then you operate under expectations all the time. I think there is a lesson behind the idea though, like "the only constant is change" and when we can accept that idea expecting the unexpected is likely to follow suit. However, there is no true way to ever be prepared for the unexpected, that's what makes it unexpected, right.

Momma Jane has been speaking of gratitude a lot lately. I can see the change in her overall person when her focus is on being grateful, so I am trying to follow in her footsteps. Instead of melting down in the face of the unexpected I want to be grateful for the lesson, for the people beside me, and if necessary just plain grateful for the meltdown that was probably a long time coming anyway.

So may I please say THANK YOU!!! Thank you to all of our delightful yogis that always have a smile and the occassional pat on the back or hug, you never know how much we really need it sometimes. Thank you to our wonderful Nurture staff who have to put up with me when I am cranky, hungry, and snappy. Thank you for always being willing to learn and to go over and above. Thank you to my Momma Jane who has presented me with such an awesome experience. She has gifted me with being a part of Nurture which is a constant learning process and such a beautiful journey. I am grateful for all of you!!!!

I recommend taking a few moments to be grateful for the good things, for lessons you have learned from the bad things, for the people and the places that are always there for you. It is easy to get caught up in the negative and therefore draw more negative energy toward you. Let us all focus on the positive and draw more positive energy toward us. Being in gratitude, if only for a few moments, creates tremendous positive energy and will always bring smiles to our faces!!

Namaste

NURTURE YOUR NAME

Since I refer to my mom and Nurture owner, Karen Smith, as Momma Jane I thought it would be nice to tell the story behind it. Here goes. . .

My wonderful stepdad, Richard, has been in our lives for almost twenty years now. I am not sure what I did to deserve such a fantastic and supportive step family, but they are all fabulous, especially Richy. He began calling me Kristin Jane when I was younger, not sure where it came from, but it stuck. My mom caught on and started calling me Kristin Jane as well, and in return I began calling her Momma Jane. Now even a few of my close friends call me Jane or Janie and all of my friends know my mom as Momma Jane. It is certainly a term of endearment.

What is truly hilarious is that when Momma Jane and I are out and about, we simply refer to eachother as Jane. I am sure people are wondering if we have the exact same name, which cracks me up. Especially because Jane does not have anything to do with either of our names.

My favorite was when my hubs, then bf, booked us a flight to Atlanta and when I looked down at my ticket in the airport my name read Kristin Jane Goslee. He had literally heard Jane so much he thought it was my real middle name. I still get a kick out of that one.

Anyhoo, that is a little insight into how we became Jane & Jane. If you have nickname, we would love to hear your back story. They seem to take on a growth cycle of their own.

Namaste.

HIP HAPPENINGS @ NURTURE

Wow, it has been awhile since my last post and I have realized that while Momma Jane is away, I have no time to play. Nurture founder and my Momma Jane, Karen Smith, took a little much needed vaca time last month. Momma Jane certainly works hard and deserves her time away whenever she can get it, but a lot tends to fall on my shoulders when she is gone. Fortunately she is always refreshed and rejuvenated when she comes back home, although I am not sure how much relaxation she accomplishes when we are constantly on the phone chatting about Nurture. Anyhoo, I am so glad to have her back and to have some time to play catch up. We have so many fabulous events, specials, and workshops going on and coming up so I will begin with those.

4 Week Beginner Yoga w/ Kathryn Smyly
Begins Monday June 1st, 2009 7-8:15p.m.

Learn the basics and enjoy a session at an hour suitable for night owls like myself.

$40

2 Hour Restorative Yoga Session w/ Karen Smith
Friday June 19th, 2009 5-7p.m.

One of my faves because it takes me a full hour to begin to unwind and I always leave restored and totally rejuvenated. I always think I will come home and soak in a bubble bath, but end up with this burst of energy and wash dishes and do laundry instead, then sleep like a rock. It's more than fabulous.

$20 (members $15)

The 7 Spiritual Laws of Yoga w/ Kathryn Smyly
Begins Wed. July 1st, 2009 7-8:15p.m.

Delve into one law per week for seven weeks. All of the Nurture crew is looking forward to a deeper exploration into Deepak Chopra's "The 7 Spiritual Laws of Yoga", a branch from his highly popular book "The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success." Much Loving Kindness to Kathryn Smyly for her evening classes, most of which I can attend.

$70 (members $60)

Be sure not to miss out on the JUNE SPA SPECIAL:

SAVE $25
Schedule a Detox Herbal Body Wrap & Receive a Foot Detox for ONLY $10 (reg. $35) Flush out those sluggish toxins and feel great for Summer fun in the sun.

Alright Nurture Neighbors, that should catch you up for now and I look forward to getting back into my regular posting routine.

Namaste

NURTURE YOUR FAVORITE

Nurture Day Spa & Yoga Studio is proud to announce the addition of full time massage therapist, Janette Favorite. Licensed Massage therapist, Janette Favorite, attended Jean’s School of Massage in Hot Springs, AR and received her license in December 1992. Janette specializes in Swedish, Hot Stone, and Deep Tissue Massage. She recently added Reflexology to her list of services offerred at Nurture. Janette enjoys the atmosphere at Nurture Day Spa & Yoga Studio’s historic building as well as working with their friendly staff. “Guests are always expressing how much they enjoy their treatments with Janette, saying she has a knack for finding exactly where they have issues,” raves owner Karen Smith. As a deaf massage therapist, Janette appreciates the universal language of touch. Schedule an appointment with Janette Favorite today by calling 501-623-9642 (YOGA). Nurture Day Spa & Yoga Studio is located on the corner of Ouachita and Hickory in the beautiful historic district of Hot Springs, AR. Visit www.nurturedayspa.com for full spa menu and pricing.

Thought I would post a rendition of what will be appearing soon in the Sentinel Record. Janette has been with us almost a year now and is an absolute delight. We are so grateful to have her as part of our team at Nurture. She truly is an excellent Massage Therapist and does have a knack for going straight to where you need the most work.

Namaste

NURTURE YOUR MOTHER

I have been fortunate to live a life submerged in an abundance of strong women. Beginning with my Grandmothers, Mom, immediate family, and on into the last few years of building new friendships along with the addition of a fabulous Mother in Law, I am one lucky girl.

All of my Grandmothers, including Paternal, Maternal, and Step Grandmother, are all brilliant, yet in very different ways. Each one possesses a beauty and strength that my generation is nothing short of blessed to behold.

My Sister is SuperMom. with more creative visions in life and on paper than anyone I know. She has come out on the other side of a great loss shining. And she does shine, from the tips of her toes to her gorgeous smile. One’s heart cannot help but be warmed in her presence. She radiates kindness and even though she has more creativity in her pinky finger than I do in my entire being, she never makes me feel anything less than brilliant.

My Stepmom is the epitome of the modern women. She can do it all and when she is done with that you wouldn’t even know she had broken a sweat. She exudes a classic style and has an insatiable appetite for adventure.

From musical talent to book smarts to street smarts, my Aunts have it all in spades. They work hard, raise kiddos, and dote on grandkiddos. And of course, no one could ever replace my late Aunt Kathy.

I cannot think of any way possible to be surrounded by more fabulous girlfriends. Some of which have recently become mothers and have taken to motherhood with ease. My girls are my style icons, life coaches, comedians, and shoulders to cry on. From longtime friends to new ones, they are always there for me and I hope they know I am always here for them too.

Strong women just keep on coming into my life and I could not be more grateful for the best mom in law anyone could ever ask for. People may toss around the idea of a ‘heart of Gold,’ but if you ever want to see it in real life, she is who you want to meet. Beautiful from the inside out and she gives excellent advice to boot. It's an honor to be a part of her family.

None are more inspiring to me than my Momma Jane. She possesses an inner beauty that permeates her entire being and shines onto everyone she meets. Her uncanny natural beauty is a mere reflection of the goodness in her heart. The things that sometimes drive me crazy about my mom are inevitably those things I admire about her the most. She is always herself and what you see is what you get. She does not have a pretentious bone in her body, and even though she has the beauty and the brains to be that way, it would never even occur to her. She is strong enough to move forward after loss and heartbreak and become even better than before. When most people would shut down after being hurt, she keeps opening her heart and continues giving to others.

Her entrepreneurial spirit always leads her to building up others. From clothing boutiques to a Yoga Studio, her goal is always to make others feel comfortable in their own skin, to look good and more importantly feel good about themselves. She never tires of learning and trying to better herself. She owns the rare combinations of an open heart and an open mind. Honest and true to herself, Momma Jane beholds the qualities as a Mother, Sister, Daughter, Wife, Friend, and Entrepreneur that I aspire to nurture within myself. As the eldest girl in a family of eight she was born to be a mother, and I am blessed to have her as mine.

Maybe it is because she is my mom or just because she is an incredible human being, but I feel like she rarely gets the credit she deserves. Guess that is one of the downfalls of being selfless with ease, not everyone knows your good intentions when you are comfortable enough with yourself not to have to voice it. I hope this post will let her know how much she means to me and that she is my hero and my inspiration.

Happy Mother’s Day Momma Jane!!! May you continue to grow in light while never changing who you truly are and keep passing along your strength and beauty to all who are lucky enough to be in your presence. I love you with all of my heart, you are my rock.

NURTURE NEWS

HIP HAPPENINGS @ NURTURE DAY SPA & YOGA STUDIO
















2nd Annual Mother & Daughter Workshop
Saturday May 9th, 2009 12-4:30p.m.
Hosted By: Nurture's Mother & Daughter Team, Karen Smith & Kristin Akins

Celebrate Mother's Day together bonding over all things fun, girly, and healthy. Ditch the workout with Revitalizing Zumba fitness, Indulge in a delicious Organic lunch, enjoy a Restrorative Yoga session, and wind down with Stress Relieving Meditation. Sip Hot Yogi Tea while enjoying a women to women discussion on everything from the benefits of Yoga to Going Green. Have a Journal and pen handy to jot down any interesting tid bits. Dress in your most comfortable and stylish workout gear and bring along your Yoga Mat if you have one. If not, no worries, Mats, Blocks, and straps will be available.

$45/ea (Members: $40)

Trust me, I am well versed in the perils of finding the Perfect Gift for Mom in honor of Mother's Day, not to mention Momma Jane's birthday is just days following, on May 16th. It is difficult to shop for Mom and it is easy to get in a rut of the same thing year after year, flowers, bath stuff, etc. Even if you are fortunate to spend a lot of time together, it is still nice to set aside a Saturday afternoon for just the two of you. The gift of spending time together is the best gift we can give our Mommas.

Momma Jane and I are super pumped about this annual event and have some new ideas in mind for 2009. Hope to see you there.

Namaste

NURTURE NATURE

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than bringing an end to a two day camping adventure. The Hubs and I loaded up Monday afternoon and headed to Lake Ouachita for campfires, veggie dogs, and good times with good friends. I had not realized how much I was missing good ole Mother Nature until we arrived at our campsite and attempted to ahem, pitch a tent. Save the thick yellow film of pollen everywhere, the setting was beautiful and serene. Trees as far as you could see in every direction, calm and immaculately clear Lake Ouachita at our fingertips, and more sunshine than should be humanly possible to soak up in one day, in a word, Nature.

I know what you are thinking, mostly because I heard it from all the ladies in my life, "You are camping? You like camping?" Yes and Yes, even the girliest of girly girls can appreciate the Great Outdoors. Now, I am more appreciative when an indoor restroom is available, but still, Nature is Nurturing, plain and simple.

The best part of our adventure was driving the Hubs crazy by my need to be uber prepared for the occasion. "Just roll with it" he kept telling me. So we rolled right onto our campsite, rolled out the tent bag, rolled out the gear, began setting up shop, and after a few minutes of rolling with it we realized there was no tent in the bag, just the tent cover. Needless to say, we all got a deep belly laugh out of that one. Not to worry, we were able to keep 'rolling with it' and slept in the back of my car.

Oh, I take that back, the best part was a solo hike on the Nature Trail which led me to what felt like a private beach on the ocean. Listening to the waves crash against the shore, the wind blowing through the trees, and gazing at newly bloomed dogwoods which possess an exotic beauty, their white flowers out of place yet oddly fitting against a sea of green trees, I was suddenly compelled to bow. Momma Jane's yogic instructions fill my mind and body, "Mountain pose, Arms high to the Heavens, Swan dive to the Earth, feel your feet firmly planted in the earth." I repeated these motions until I realized I was on a slight hill and it may not be the safest place to practice. I yearned to find a flat patch of dirt and provide Sun Salutes to Mother Nature, but alas I had to head back to camp.

It was a much needed reconnection to Nature. I will no longer go years before venturing to the Great Outdoors for camping. It is necessary for me to be reminded of the overpowering beauty of Nature and why I should be more and more aware of my impact on this Earth. It is humbling to feel my smallness amongst a vast Earth and yet also empowering to feel that every small step on this vast Earth matters.

If you can find a moment, step outside on your deck, hike a nature trail, meditate, journal, read. If you can find a series of available moments, drive to your nearest campground and sleep in a tent, er, car, either way, let Nature Nurture you, your mind, body, and soul. Quietly reconnect to the Earth. I hope you find it as healing as I did.

Happy Earth Day and Namaste.